High hopes form Mullanpur hospital: Tata Memorial dir

Director of Mumbai's Tata Memorial Cancer Hospital Dr RA Badvae on Saturday prayed at the Golden Temple for the success of the cancer hospital coming up at Mullanpur near Chandigarh.

Expressing concern over the increasing number of cancer cases in Punjab, Dr Badvae called for identifying the reasons, the types, and the areas. "Punjab has less tobacco intake than other states, so its cancer cases are a surprise," he said in an informal chat with the media.

He said if the reason was known, perhaps the rise in cases could be controlled. He cited various studies about the possible causes, including the excessive use of pesticides and fertilisers that had got mixed in the groundwater in the Malwa belt.

On the hospital coming up in Mullanpur, he said the work was near completion. "I hope this hospital goes a long way in giving relief to cancer patients who have to travel far for treatment," said Dr Badvae.

Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC) presented the director with a Siropa (robe of honour), a replica of the Golden Temple, and a set of religious books.